Adjustable school desk and seat



(No Model.) 2 Sheets$het 1.

0. G. DOOKEN;

ADJUSTABLE SCHOOL DESK AND S-EAT.

PTO/378,875. Patented Mar. 6, 188 8.

(No Model.) v 2 SheetsShee't 2.

0'. G. D0 OKEN.

ADJUSTABLE SCHOOL DESK AND SEAT. No. 378,876. Patented Mar. 6, 1888.

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N, PETERS. Photo-Lithographer. Washington. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

OLE G. DOOKEN, OF MOUNT HOREB, WISCONSIN.

ADJUSTABLE SCHOOL DESK AND SEAT.

QPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,875, dated March 6,1889.

Application filed July 22, 1887. Serial No. 245,006. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLE G. DOUKEN, acitizen of the United States,residing at Mount Horeb, in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Adjustable School Desksand Seats, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to an adjustable school desk and seat; and itconsists in the construction and arrangement of the parts of the same,whichwill be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in theclaims.

One object of my invention is to provide a school desk and seat whichare adjustable and readily adapted for use in connection with persons ofeither high or low stature.

A further object of my invention is to construct the several parts ofthe said desk in a simple andeffective manner, strong and durable, andso that they will be easily handled and readily understood and adjusted,positive in their desired result, easily set up in operative position,and comparatively inexpensive in their manufacture.

I attain these objects by the form of desk illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein likeletters of reference indicatesimilarparts in the several figures,and in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of my improved desk in position for use. Fig. 2 is a side view ofthe said desk with the seat and desk portions respectively folded upagainst and down upon the main body of the desk. Fig. 3 is a transversevertical section of the desk and seat as they will be arranged for use.Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the seat and desk with the back restremoved therefrom. r

F indicates the side standards or supports of the desk,which areconstructed of such configuration as to accommodate the structure andattachments of the several parts composing the desk entire, and whichhave feet which restuponthefloororaresecuredthereto. These sidestandards, F, may be constructed either of hard wood or of metal, as maybe desired, and across their rear upper portions the covering F issecured, and in their forward portions aslatted back rest, F is alsomounted, leaving the upper part thereof open and the lower portionsextending from the lower edge of the back cover, F, to the back rest, F,provided with a bottom, F By this means a book case or receptacle isformed for the reception of books, slates, or other articles which thescholar may desire to place therein.

Resting on the upper part of the standards F and over the book case orreceptacle, as above described, a cover or lid, D, is hinged to the topof the said standards,and is readily raised or lowered, as may bedesirable. The top portions of the standards may be provided withink-wells f, as shown in dotted lines, and which are adapted to becovered and concealed by the lid or cover D. To the top portion of therear cover, F, the desk or rest G is hinged, and is provided withbrackets O, which are hinged to the under side thereof, and which act asrests for the said desk or rest 0, to support the same when raised foruse. When it is desired to lower the said desk 0 and turn it downagainst the rear cover, F, the brackets or supports 0 may be readilyturned or folded in upon the under side of the said desk 0, and the deskand brackets folded down against the said rear cover, F. The seat A isof any preferred form of construction, as may be also the back or resttherefor. To the under side of the said seat A metallic hinges A aresecurcd,which. are provided with ears a in their rear portions and aninclined extension, a, projecting outwardly and downwardly from the saidears a. The upper end or point, i, of a sliding arm, I, is pivoted inthe ears or supports a of the metallic hinge A, said slide or support Ihaving an inclined surface,t", formed at this point, against which thedownwardlyinclined projection a of the hinge A rests when the seat A islowered and in an operative position. The slide or support I is providedwith an angle or projection, '6 constructed with a slot, i which engageswith a headed pin, to, secured on the inner sideof the standard orsupport F. In the rear of the slot i and either formed integral with theextension just described or secured thereto, is a ratchetbar, I,which isconstructed with downwardlyprojecting teeth. The arm I thence projectsunder the seat, and is formed with a rightangled strip, 1', integraltherewith, which passes up along the side of the standard F and into andpartially through the bookcase or receptacle. On the forward edge ofthis rightconnected thereto by loops 1".

angled strip or extension I a rack-bar, is formed, which is eitherconstructed integrally with said portion of the arm I or securedthereto. The said portion 1' of the arm I is elongated to allowconsiderable adjustment thereof, and is provided with an elongated slot,11, which is engaged by a headed pin, 10, also secured to the inside ofthe standard F. On the top portion of this portion 1 of the arm Ianother slide, J, is mounted, the vertical arm of which is provided withthe slot j, and in like manner engages with the stud or pin 10. Thisslidearm J is provided with a right angled extension, J', which issituated within the bookcase, and which is provided with an elongatedslot, j, engaging with a headed stud or pin, w secured in like manner tothe inside of the standard F. The rear edge of the extension J of thearm J is provided with a l3Qk-SUlf8.C,j similar to the arm I, but inreverse position thereto. The arms I and J are constructed and arrangedto respectively elevate or depress the seat A and the desk 0, as will bemore fully hereinafter described.

On the top inside portion of each of the standards F a guard-box, e, isattached, which limits the upward movement of the portion J of the armJ, and at the same time provides a covering at this point for the saidportion of the arm J and hides the upper end thereof from view and actsas a shield for the scholar occupying the desk.

At the lower portion of the two standards F F a rod or shaft, S, ismounted, and has hearing at each of its ends in the said stand ard, andis provided with pinions or spurs s s, which engage with therack-surfaces of the portions 1 of the slides I, as hereinbefore setforth. The one side of the shaft S projects outwardly from one of thestandards F, and is adapted to be engaged by an operating-crank, \V. Inthe upper part of said standards F, and having bearing therein andpassing through the book case or receptacle near the rear portionthereof, is another shaft,S', which in like manner is provided withspurs or pinions s s at its ends, which engage with the rear racksurfacej of the portions J of the slide-arms J. This shaft S also projectsoutwardly from one side of one of the standards F, and is adapted inlike manner to be engaged by the crank W. To each side of the saidstandards F, and within the book case or receptacle, a pawl, is pivoted,and of such configuration as to pass over and not obstruct the freemovement of the portion J of the arm J, and curved downward at its endsto engage wit-h the spurs or pinions s, and thereby lock the shaft Sin afixed position. In order that the said shaft S may be readilydisconnected from the pawl \V", I provide a strip of wood or othermaterial under the said shaft S, and This strip R is provided at one endwith a finger, 1', which curves slightly forward over the shaft S andengages with the under side of the pawl V and when it is desired to havethe shaft S revolve the strip R is pushed toward the rear of the bookcase or receptacle, drawing against the finger r,which raises the pawl\V and disengages the same from contact with the spurs or pinions s,when the shaft S can be turned by the crankiV, as hereinbefore stated.

The rear portion of the upper part of the extension J of the arm orslide J is provided with projectionsj, which project through the rearcover, F, of the book case or receptacle. These projectionsj have eyes jformed in their outer ends, which are adapted to be inserted between theknuckles ol' the strap-hinge plate W and pivotally connected therein.This projectionj" has vertical movement in slits a, formed in the rearcover, F, and by this means, as the armjJ is raised or lowered, the saiddesk or rest 0 may be elevated or depressed, as may be desirable andnecessary. In a similar manner the shaft S may be revolved by the crankIV, and the spurs or pinions 8 caused to force the arms Ieither upwardor downward byengagement with the rack-edge i", and the seat A be raisedor lowered and adjusted, as may be desired. In the use of this seatafter adj ustment it will be necessary to have some rigid mechanism forretaining the same in its adjusted position. To provide for thisretention of the seat A, the foot-rest S in the lower part of thestandards F F is connected to a metallic arm, K, on each side thereof,one portion, 7a, of which is pivotally connected to the side of thestandard and the other portion, k, is constructed with a slot, k, whichis engaged by a stud or pin, it, and is allowed a slight movement onsaid stud or pin by means of the slot, as just described. The forwardend ofthe arm K is provided Willi ratchet-teeth K, which are adapted toengage with the downwardly-projecting ratchet-teeth formed with the barI on the arm I. By this means the arm I is held in its stationaryposition after it has been adjusted, and consequently the seat Asustained and supported at the desired elevation. It will be readilyseen that the movement of the foot-rest S controls the arm K in itsengage ment with or disengagement from the ratchetbar I by a slightrocking movement of the said foot-rest S". XVhen the arm K is thrownupward by the said foot-rest S", the ratchetteeth K thereof are causedto become disengaged from the ratehet-bar I, and the arm I and the seatA then allowed to have a sliding vertical movement either upwardly toelevate the seat A or downwardly to cause a depression thereof.

When the vdesk or rest G has been adjusted to the elevation desired, itis held in such position by means of the pawls XV", which engage withthe spurs s, preventing the shaft S from turning, and consequentlyholding the arms or slides J in a fixed position. The use of the desk 0may be dispensed with by folding the same down upon the rear cover, F,of the book case or receptacle and the scat alone used and operated asdescribed or the desk may be used and the scat folded up against themain body The several parts of the desk will be con-.

structed of light but durable material, so as not to provide acumbersome or heavy desk, which would greatly deteriorate from its useand operation. The parts all being adjustable, the desk is renderedconvenient and injury prevented to scholars by the use of a desk toohigh or a seat too low.

The novelty, utility, and adaptability of the desk, with its severaladjustments and mech-' anism for controlling the same,will be readilyunderstood and are appreciable to those skilled in the art.

Having thu claim 1. In a school-desk, the combination of the standardsF, the seat A,hinged to and adapted to be supported by vertically-movingslides I, havingaserrated or ratchet surface, K, at the lower portionthereof and a rack-surface, '6 on described my invention, I

,an extended arm of said slide, a shaft,S, having a spur, s, engagingthe rack-surface i and operated by a crank for raising and lowering saidseat and slide, and a foot-rest, S, secured to detent-arms K, havingforward serrated surfaces engaging with the similar surfaces, K, of theslides I and operating to retain the seat in its adjusted position,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the sides F, of the seat A,-the slides orsupports I, having serrations K on their lower portions and rackteeth &on the edge of an upper extension or arm, the gearing for raising andlowering the said slides or supports, the locking-detents K, having theserrated ends engaging with the serrations K of the slides I, and thefootboard S secured to the locking-detents K, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a school-desk, the combination of the supportingstandards having abook case or receptacle formed in their upper portion, a hinged coverfor said receptacle, a desk or rest provided with hinged brackets orsupports on its under side, slides J, held to and movable vertically onthe standards, and means for operating the said slides; the desk or restbeing hinged to the upper ends of the said slides J, substantially asset forth.

4. In a school-desk, the combination of the supporting-standards havinga book-receptacle formed in their upper portions, a desk or rest securedto sliding plates adapted to be elevated or depressed at the rearportion of said book case or receptacle, and means, as

set forth, for operating the several parts, sub

stantially as described.

5. In a school-desk, the combination of the seat hinged to and supportedby the verticallymoving slides I, having serrated surfaces K at theirlower portions and a racksurface, i,

on extended arms of the same, a shaft, S, hav-- ing spurs s, engagingthe rack-surfaces i and adapted to be operated to raise and lower theseat and slide, and a foot-rest, S, secured to and operating detents tohold the slides and seat in an adjusted position, substantially as setforth.

6. In a school-desk, the combination, with the standards F, having arear covering, F, in the upper part and a back rest, F, secured to theforward part, forming a book case or receptacle, of a hinged lid forsaid book case or receptacle, the desk or rest hinged to thevertically-sliding arms J, having extensions provided with rack-teeth 3'a shaft, S, having spurs s, engaging the teeth j and a pawl, W,

engaging the spur s and holding the desk in an elevated position,substantially as described.

7. In combination with the seat, the slide or support I, by which theseat is carried, the. rocking foot-rest, the gearing for elevating andlowering the seat, and the detent carried by the foot-rest to lock theseat at any point of its movement, as set forth.

8. In combination with the supportingstandards, the seat, the slide orsupport I, having a pinand-slot connection with thesupporting-standards, the arm 1 on the support I, also having apin-and-slot connection with the supporting-standards, the teeth 2' onthe arm I, the gear S, for engaging with the said teeth, and the rockingfoot-rest having a detent, K, to engage with teeth K on the support I,as set forth.

9. In combination with the back rest, F, the receptacle or case forbooks formed in rear of the back rest, said receptacle or case beingflush with the sides and top of the back rest, the cover D for the topof the case or receptacle, the adjustable desk or rest 0, connected tothe receptacle or case, and the mechanism for raising and loweringthedesk 0, said mechanism being located inside the case or receptacle, asset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLE G. DOOKEN.

Witnesses:

O. K. TENNEY, OLE C. NUNBSON.

